By Christy Aumer, Reporter

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – For two local families, an ordinary Wednesday afternoon turned into a shopping spree to gift children at the University of Hospitals and Clinics undergoing cancer treatment.

The Anderson's and the Van Pelt's gathered at Walmart with numerous empty carts and were told they had $5000 to spend on items for events like birthday's, post treatment and surgery celebrations and holidays.

"She is the happiest three-year-old," Meghan McClaskey said of her three-year-old daughter Maeve. "You would never know." Maeve was diagnosed with leukemia about two years ago, but has remained positive. Maeve and her five-year-old brother Bayne picked out shopping carts full of toys for children at the hospital. McClaskey said Maeve's cart was very pink, and Bayne's was full of Star Wars.

Aiming for a Cure started over 10 years ago by husband and wife Steve and Jodie Ries after their son Ben died of brain cancer in 2005. "Ben was always wondering how the children next door to him in the hospital were doing," Jodie said. They hope they can continue to raise funds and give back to the community.